All’s Fair 95th edition of Ephrata’s grand festival here Tuesday

The Ephrata Community Pool snack bar returns May 26 after being closed for nearly two decades. The new snack bar will be run by Steve Brown, owner of Lily's on Main and the Ephrata Main Theatre.

With just a week to catch your breath after a successful run at the Denver Fair, the grand old Ephrata Fair is set to roll into town.

Set-up and exhibit entries will get underway Monday afternoon into evening with the curtain officially going up Tuesday at lunchtime.

The Ephrata Farmers Day Association has great plans for the 95th edition of the fair, with a week full of food, fun, animals, games, rides and entertainment.

Highlights at the beginning of the week include the big night in Tent City in Tom Grater Memorial Park on Tuesday. This includes the ever-popular pork chop dinner at 5 p.m., followed by antique tractor games at 6 and then the one that really brings out the huge crowds -the rooster and pig chase on the baseball field at 7.

Southern Rock band Running on Empty will be appearing at the Whistle Stop Plaza Tuesday night at 7 p.m.

Wednesday is Senior Citizens Day from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. but the main event of the day that always has the town buzzing is the 80th annual parade. The parade will have more entries this year and include 23 musical units, featuring the Liberty High School Grenadier Band from Bethlehem, 330-members strong and ready to march in the Jan. 1., 2014 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade. Also back is a crowd favorite, the Lincoln University Orange Crush marching band. All the fun steps off from in front of Ephrata High School at 7 p.m.

Local band "Honey ‘n the Bees will be entertaining at the plaza on Wednesday night from 8-11 p.m.

The Farmers Day Association also wants to let everyone know there have been some changes to the location of exhibits. Vegetables will now be housed at Tent City instead of the fair office; while models and photography exhibits have been moved there (the fair office). Registration drop off and Saturday pickup would now occur at these new locations. Receiving times are Monday from 3-8 p.m. at all locations except Tent City (4-8). Removal times are Sunday from 2-4 p.m. with the exception again of Tent City, which is 8-10 a.m. on Saturday morning.

Houghton Enterprises will once again be the ride operator for the fair. Rides run 5-10 p.m. Tuesday, 4 till closing Wednesday, noon till closing Thursday, 4 till closing Friday and noon to closing on Saturday. Ride all night wristbands are available for $20 at the fair or $15 if purchased online at JimHoughtonEnterprises.com by Sept. 23.

For the full fair week schedule and other details and information, check out the ad on page A-17 in this week’s Review.